News in Liberty, MO
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In the News
May 2026 News briefs -
I Hope They Call Me on a Mission
Youth attend a missionary-focused event; Easter egg hunt -
Johnny’s Café
Feeding the hungry and serving God’s children -
Tabernacle Choir Watch Party
Church to sponsor Watch Party on June 26, 2026 in Kansas City; broadcast featuring the Tabernacle Choir & live, local musicians, free BBQ -
General Authority Elder Morgan
See photos from reception and a new interview from Church News -
Grow Hope, Grow Food, Grow Together
Liberty-Area Ministerial Alliance’s Shared Garden Ministry -
Man of Honor
Liberty attorney receives Alexander W. Doniphan Service and Leadership Award
News - Worldwide
- World: New Young Women Age‑Group Names Emphasize Faith, Hope, and Light
- World: New Nauvoo Temple Visitors’ Center Scheduled for Dedication
- World: Springfield, MO Temple Groundbreaking & Others
- World: Media Gets First Look at New Temple Square Visitors’ Center
- World: Latter-day Saints Sustain New First Presidency in Solemn Assembly
Features
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Saint on the Street
What are some of your favorite staycation ideas in the Kansas City area? -
Men of God
Local youth gather to inspire growth -
Scarred for Life?
A lesson learned about repentance from an ‘unsightly scar’ -
Liberty Recipe Exchange
Quick Breads & Yeast Breads -
Looking Back at Lessons Learned
How has your understanding, appreciation, and perspective of the Word of Wisdom changed with time and experience?
Missionaries
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A Special Invitation
A missionary message from Pres Russell -
Mission Map
Click on the world map to discover where our missionaries are serving -
Mission Advice
A video from missionaries from the Liberty Stake -
An Answer to Prayers
Sariah Ransom's Service Mission Call -
Returned with Honor: Paige Gallup
Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission -
Returned with Honor: Paige Russell
Perú Lima Limatambo Mission - Spanish-speaking -
Returned with Honor: Zach Morris
California Riverside Mission
Johnny’s Café:
Feeding the hungry and serving God’s children
Norma King, Media Director (Rush Creek Ward)
It’s noon on the 4th Saturday of the month and Johnny’s Cafe at Liberty First Presbyterian Church is humming with business.
In the fellowship hall and kitchen, volunteers from the Liberty MO Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are serving up plates of food and washing dishes. Adults, teenagers and children work side-by-side under the direction of the Rev. Nikki Cooley who is managing Johnny’s Café this day.
The meal is free to anyone who comes, and this day 35-plus people, mostly senior citizens, will gather to enjoy the meal of baked potatoes, chili, toppings and apple pie, prepared by First Presbyterian cooks.
Johnny’s Café began in 2011 when members of Liberty Christian Church saw a growing number of hungry individuals and families in the Northland. The café got its start from the donations made to a memorial fund for John Nowell, Jr., a longtime resident and businessman in Liberty who had a passion for feeding people in the community, said Troy Cooley, church administrator at Liberty Christian and Rev. Cooley’s husband.
The first meal Johnny’s Café provided was a traditional Thanksgiving meal served to 28 guests on November 19, 2011. Since then, Johnny’s Café has fed thousands of people. Over the years, other churches, including the Liberty MO Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have become involved.
Free meals are prepared and provided by Liberty United Methodist (2nd Saturday), Liberty Christian Church (3rd Saturday), and First Presbyterian Church (4th Saturday). Meals are available from 11:30 a.m.to 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
During Covid, Liberty Christian began delivering meals and providing carry-out instead of dine-in. In April they provided 335 meals to the community.
Diane Jackson is a regular at Johnny’s Café . But when she first learned about it, she was hesitant to go, thinking it was only for needy people. “I didn’t want it taken away from somebody. And then when I kind of realized how much it helps the seniors to get out and visit, and it’s like something I look forward to, really. I enjoy coming. I’m a widow and it gets me out,” she said.
“People are very friendly. The first thing you see is somebody with a smiling face. They all have this wonderful attitude,” added Jackson, who lives in rural Clay County.
“There’s not a lot of volunteer opportunities for kids so when I saw the sign-up sheets to help at Johnny’s Café I wanted to make sure that we were able to help. Volunteering within our church is great but volunteering in the wider community helps spread the mission of Jesus Christ and helps build more positive relationships with people in the community, which I really love,” Sam Moore said.
Across from Diane sits Sheryl and Dave Bryson, a cheerful couple from Kansas City North.
“We’ve come many times and this is one of the best meals we’ve had. They’re all good,” said Sheryl Bryson. It’s not just the great meal that brings them back, it’s the people, she said. Her husband Dave, loves to socialize, and so getting together with others at Johnny’s Café is something he enjoys. The venue at the First Presbyterian Church is smaller and not as overwhelming as having a meal at the Liberty Senior Center, which appeals to Sheryl.
Stephen Williams has been coming to Johnny’s Café for seven or eight years. He’s enjoyed getting to know different pastors of the churches, as well as many others who come to share a meal. He says that Johnny’s Café is more than a meal. “It’s about coming together to build a relationship around Christ. You got to meet people where they are. You’re not gonna do anything about Jesus Christ on an empty stomach, malnourished, you need some food.”
Fritz Seibold, a 10 year-old from Kellybrook Ward, enjoyed being a server. “It was just fun serving the people. Pouring the water. It felt like fun, like I was working at a restaurant.”
When asked what would the Savior think or say about his service, he answered: “He’d say, ‘Good job!’”
Samantha Moore, from Kellybrook, and her three children (Henry 13, Noa 11, and Fred 8), enjoyed working together in the kitchen, where they had dishwashing detail.
“There’s not a lot of volunteer opportunities for kids so when I saw the sign-up sheets to help at Johnny’s Café I wanted to make sure that we were able to help. Volunteering within our church is great but volunteering in the wider community helps spread the mission of Jesus Christ and helps build more positive relationships with people in the community, which I really love,” she said.
Johnny Cafe was a success, said Cooley–people being fed and others serving. “We were all fed.”
Captions
01 – Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Liberty Missouri Stake volunteered to serve at Johnny’s Cafe on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church in Liberty, Mo. Different churches in Liberty take turns hosting the free meal for the public. During First Presbyterian’s week, LDS members helped with the meal, planing the meal, donating food and gift cards, shopping for food, setting up, serving, cleaning-up and providing lots of smiles. Photo by Lori Garcia
02 – The Seibold Family (Kellybrook Ward) greets the public as they enter the lunch. Thirty-five community members came and enjoyed a free meal and fellowship at Johnny’s Cafe in the Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church. Photo by Lori Garcia
03 – Kandee Meyer (Liberty Ward) teaches her two sons how to wrap silverware for Johnny’s Cafe. The family helped set up for the meal. Meyer joked that her high-school days of working at a restaurant were paying off. Photo by Lori Garcia
04 – Rick Brown (Liberty Ward) enjoys a meal at Johnny’s Cafe at First Presbyterian Church with Eun Dobbins. Both say they enjoy the fellowship and the food they find at Johnny’s Cafe. Photo by Norma King
05 – The Rev Nikki Cooley, Johnny’s Cafe manager at First Presbyterian, along with Liberty Stake volunteers and Liberty-area Ministerial Alliance friends Lori and Rudi Garcia. Photo by Rudi Garcia